Multiple-zone temperature control



Aug. 15, 1950 J w, PEQKHAM 2,518,996

, MULTIPLE-ZONE TEMPERATURE CONTROL Filed Jan. 22, 1948 m? W m m? VOLTAGE W REGULATOR 105 o2 I06 I07 I08 LU? I03 y lax1 1 6 A1 41 1 & no

m H2 H3 VOLTAGE DIVIDERS Patented Aug. 15, 1950 Joseph W. Peckham, Oakland Calif assignor to The Bristol Company, Waterbury, Conn., a cor- .poration of Connecticut Application January 22, 194a, Serial No.3,804

This invention relates to automatic temperature control, and more especiallyto the regulation 'of temperature in ovens or similar enclosed spaces where it is desired to control, more or less independently, the temperatures as measured in different locations or zones,while at the same time rendering all of said temperatures subject to the domination of a common, or master, control.

In many types of industrial heating, it is customary to make use of a furnace or oven having a plurality of zones in each of which it is desirable that the temperature be individually regulated, either to maintain uniformity of temperature under varying conditions, or to establish a predetermined temperature. gradient, while at the same time the general" temperature level is independently controllable in response to variation of a, condition which may be taken as representing the average temperature of the installation. Such conditions are encountered, for example, in conveyor furnaces, baking .ovens and Herreschof burners; I 4

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for so coordinating an associated group of temperature regulatorswith a single master regulator, as tocause the performance of the latter to dominate that of the. former group, and to superimpose thereon a'common character.-

2 Claims. 01. ass-) istic which may be a function of the jointinfluence of the'regulators of the group.

It is a further object to provide "coordinating means as above set forth, in which the influence of the dominating controller upon the individual controllers of the group shall beindividuallyadjustable with respect to each instrument in the group. I

It is a further object to provide means, as above stated, in which the desired results shall be obtained primarily-with equipment of standard and accepted design, with a minimum use of'special or unusual parts. v a

In practicing the invention,.it is proposed. to provide in combination with a zoned furnace, oven, or other heating enclosure, a group of auto matic controllers, each adapted to regulate the temperature. in a single zone, and to provide a further controllerresponsive to temperature at a selected location. intheinstallation and adapted to modify simultaneously the calibration or'equivalent setting of the individualcontrollers of the group. Specifically, in conjunction with'a, group of control instruments utilizing an electrical method of temperature measurement, it is proposed to introduce into their individual electrical measuring circuits the influence of' a master controller, a, modifying influence whereby to modify their readings to the extent of rendering the over-all result of the controlling function responsive, not only individually to the separately .measured temperature values, but also jointly to a temperature measured at a selected point. In the drawings: I Fig. 1: is a diagrammatic representation of a zoned furnace having'associated therewith a, combination of controllers utilizing thermo-electric elements and embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a modified control arrangement utilizing resistance elements.

' Fig. 3 is a diagram, showing the details of an instrument suitable for use in the system of Fig. 2. Referring now to the drawings: I

In Fig. 1, the numeral l0 designates a furnace or oven divided into a number of-sections or zones Ar'B, C, D, by-partitions ll, I2 and I3, and containing workpieces E, F, G, and H, respectively adapted to-be heated by burners l5, l6, l1, and I8, which admit fluid fuel to said zones for combustion. The products of combustion of all zones of the furnace I0 discharge into a common stack or-chimney I9, and thence to the atmosphere. The: numeral designates a supply source of pressure fluid (e. g. compressed air) for actuating" the control devices; and 2| designates a source of fluid fuel adapted for combustion in the burners l5;-l6, etc. I

As typical of the manner in which individual control of the temperatures in the several zones is accomplished, reference may be had to the automatic regulation of" fuel supply to the burner 15 locatedin the zone A, and predominantly responsible for-heating the workpiece E. The burner is supplied with fuel from the source 21 through a pipe; 22 having therein apneumatic motor-valve Z3'=ad apted for actuation by variable air pressure supplied through a conduit 24. A regulating instrument-:or controller 25 which includes .a measuringelement responsive to changes in;an-appliedxelectromotive force, and, subject to the influence thereof, serves to vary the pressure .of-air derived from the source-20 and in turn admitted to the conduit 24. The instrument 25-may -be of any one of a variety wellknown in the art of automatic control, preferred form being-that disclosed and claimedin U.- S. Letters Patent No. 2,326,238granted 'to A. R. Mabey August 10, 1943. Instrumentsof thistype incorporate a potentiometer-type measuringelementadapted to position a moving member inaccordancewith thez value of an electromotive force applied between the terminals thereof, and thus to regulate the pressure of air in a conduit, and the pressure may be applied to the motor element of a pneumatic valve operator. Means are also provided for varying the relation between regulated air pressure and applied electromotive force, thus providing a con trol-point setting.

Suitably related to the workpiece E to partake of the temperature characteristic thereof is a thermocouple 26, having attached thereto two conductors 21 and 28, of which the former is connected to a terminal of the controller 25, and the latter to an element of a further thermocouple 29. The free element of the couple 29 is con-- nected to the free terminal of the controller to complete an electric circuit in which the total electromotive force, represented by the algrebraic sum of the potential difierences in the couples 26 and 29, is applied to the measuring element of the instrument 25. Thus, according to th'e well-known principles of automatic regulation, the controller 25, acting through the valve 28, will tend to maintain at the burner I5 '9. supply of fuel directly subject to the joint influence of the thermocouples 26 and 29, and, if the temperature of the latter couple be maintained constant, tending to hold at a constant value the temperature of the workpiece E, as determined. by the thermocouple 26.

In thermal-exchange relation to couple 29 is a resistor-type electric heating element 30, con- 'nected to, and adapted to be energized from, an

Thus, the voltage impressed upon the voltage dividers is subject to variation in accordance with the temperature to which the thermocouple 66 is exposed; and the portion of said voltage applied to each of the heaters 30, 40, 50, and 60 will depend upon the individual setting of the respective one of the adjustable voltage dividers 3|, 4|, 5|, and '51 to which said heater is electrically connected.

Operation of the control system may best be understood by first considering the performance of the control apparatus in its relation to one of the several zones in which temperature values are under regulation. As previously pointed out, the temperaturedf the workpiece E in zone A will tend to attain a constant value, subject to adjustment by setting the control point on the instrument 25, and assuming that the thermocouple 2'9 is maintained at a, constant temperature. This is in accord with the well-known principles of adjustable voltage divider 31 supplied from n variable-voltage source presently to be described.

A control system identical in all respects with that by which the temperature in the "zone A is regulated, is provided for the zone B by a pipe '32 supplying fuel from the source 21' through a. pneumatic motor-valve 33, receiving air through a conduit 34 from an 'electro-pneum'atic regulator ii. Regulator '35 is responsive to the joint influence of two thermocouples 86 and -88, the

' former of which is juxtaposed to the workpiece F to measureits temperature, and latter of which is mounted in heat-transfer relationship to a resistance-type heater 4!] adaptod -to be energized from an adjustable voltage divider M.

Similarly, pipes 42 and 52 supply duel from the source 2| to the burners m and H! in zones C and D, respectively, the flow of said fuel being regulated by pneumatic-motor valves in and 53, receiving air through conduits such as -41 l rom regulators 45 and 55, identical in all respects with the regulators 25 05,:and responsive co the joint influence of =two thermocou les 1B and l9, and 56 and $9, the former of'each pair be'in'g juxtaposed to the workpiece G, and 'the latter of each pair to h'e'atlng elbments 5O audit-energized from adlustablevo'ltagedividers5|, 6l.-

A control instrument 6'5, which--may be-similar to the hereinbe'io're described controllers '25, etc, is rendered responsive to the eleetromotive force developed in a thermocouple 66 mounted, in the stack l9, and regulates {the pressure of air derived from the source '20 and applied to' the motor-element'o'f a pneumati'cally'actuated voltage regulator or rheo'stat G1, to render the setting of said regulator dependent 'upon "the tempera ture to which the couple 66 isex-p'osed. "Ihe "electrical element of the regulator 61 is supplied with power from a source 68, and is 'adapted to deliver its regulated output to -'a pair of conductors -69 and '10, across which are connected the several voltage dividers '31, ll, it and H.

further explanation. Upon the application of potential from the voltage divider 3| to the heater -30, the temperature of the couple 2! will tend to rise, introducing intothe measuring circuit of the controller 25 an electromotive done which, according to the polarity of the couple 29 with respect to that of the 'couple 28,'wi1i tend to supplement, or' to oppose, that of the last-named couple, thus modifying the measured temperature, and

causing the controller to either raise or lower,

as the case may be, the regulated temperature, with respect to the setting of the control point.

In the same manner, the temperatures in the zones B,,C, and 20. "will tie-modified according to thetempemtures-oftheheaters 4'0, 511, and ill, respectively; and, since, through their associated voltage dividers, these heaters :are all energized 1mm 2. common source composed of the condim- -tors 6! and HI, and since, the voltage between said conductors is responsive "to the temperature of the thermocouple 66 in the stack l9, it follows that the temperaturesin the several zones :of the turnaca-in addition to being regulated by the individual controllers 25, 35, I5, and 55, will be subject to :a superposed influence, and will tend .to vary simultaneously according to the temperature of the -escaping products of combustion. Adjustment 'ofthe settings "of the several voltage dividers 3|, M, etc., will, "therefore, control the extent to which the potentials introduced into the respective measuring circuits by the couples 29, 39,=etc. dominate those 'developed'by the measuring couples 126, -:3ii,,etc., and thus render selecttvely addustable,- the magnitude of response of p the temperature in each zone to that in thestack ture-se'nsitive resistance units '11, 12, :13, and II are positioned in the 'four zones oi the furnace, and a further temperature-sensitive resistance unit "I6 inthe stack. These resistance units are connected in the external measuring circuits "of 5. controlling instruments'lG, 11, I8, I9 and 80, respectively; and in series with the first four named of said circuits are further temperature-sensitive resistors 8|, 82, 83 and 84.

While the controlling instrument 16 may take any one Of a number of well-known forms of resistance-thermometer-actuated regulators, one form which it may, assume is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. An electrical bridge network is comprised of two ratio arms 85.and 86, a slide wire resistance unit 81 having a movable contact 88 associated therewith, and a fourth arm including the external variable resistors II and 8I, said arms being interconnected to form a closed loop. Alternating electromotive force from a source 88 is impressed upon the network at the point between the ratio arms 8586, and the point between the adjustable arm 81, and the external variable resistors. The movable contact 88 and the point between the arm 85 and the ex.- ternal resistors are connected to the input side of a conventional amplifier 9|; and the output side of said amplifier is connected to a reversible motor 92, for operating said motor in a direction, and with an intensity, dependent upon the extent of unbalance of the bridge network.

By means of a suitable mechanical connection, here indicated as a flexible band 93 loopedover the pulley of the motor 92 and a further pulley 94, mechanical connection is provided between said motor and the sliding contact 88, to cause the operation of the motor in response to a condition of unbalance in the bridge network and tending to position said contact along the slide wire 81 and restore the bridge to a condition of balance. The translated position of the contact 88 thus becomes a measure of the combined resistance of the external units II and 8|; and, if the latter be maintained at a constant reference temperature, the temperature of the former may be read from a graduated scale 95 fixed to the frame of the instrument and cooperating with the sliding contact 88.

Regulation in response to the measure provided by the position of the sliding contact 88 is effected by means of a pneumatic control unit 96, which, while available in any one of a number of practical forms, may preferably be of the general type set forth in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,880,247, issued to A. R. Mabey et al., October 4, 1932. In that instrument a small frictionless vane is movable between opposed escape jets, and in cooperation with suitable pneumatic relay means, serves to maintain the pressure of control air derived from a constant pressure source at a value proportional to the displacement of said vane with respect to said jets. The control unit 98 is provided with a quadrant 91, through which connection is made to the band 93, to position internal elements as set forth, and so regulate the flow of compressed air derived from a supply source 98 as to provide at an outlet conduit 89 leading to one of the pneumatic motor-valves, similar to those shown in Fig. 1, a pressure which is a function of the position of the contact 88, and therefore of the temperature to which the resistance unit II is exposed. The controlling instruments TI, 18, and 19 are identical in their construction and operation with the instrument I8, and, being operatively connected to the temperature-sensitive resistors, 12, I3 and I4, respectively, tend tomaintain at predetermined temperatures the furnace zones in which said resistors are severally located.

The control instrument 88, having the stack resistor I5 connected in its measuring circuit, is adapted to receive air from the source 98 and deliver it under controlled pressure to'a' pneumatically actuated voltage regulator I88, which may be similar to the regulator 61 in Fig. '1. In such a regulator electrical energy from a source IUI, passing through the regulator will be supplied to a pair of conductors I82-I83 at a voltage dependent upon the temperature to which the sensitive resistance unit I5 is exposed. Thetemperature-sensitive resistance units-8|, 82, 83, and 84, connected respectively in the measuring circuits, of the instruments 16, I1, 13, and I9, are in turn. placed in thermal exchange'rela-v tionship with resistance-type heaters I05, I88, I81, and I08 supplied through independently adjustable voltage dividers H0,- IH, II2, and II 3, respectively, from the variable-voltage source provided by the conductors Int-I83.

So long as the heaters I85, I05, etc.--ar e maintained at constant and predetermined temperatures, the control of the several zone temperatures by the instruments -18, 11, etc. under the influence of the corresponding temperature-sensitiv'e resistance units 'II, 1-2, etc. will be subject only to the temperatures to which said sensitive units are exposed in said zones; .but, upon variation in the temperature of any of said heaters, the sensitive resistors 8|, 82, etc., will respond, varying the total resistance values of the several measuring circuits, and superposing upon the normal control a further influence representative of the temperatures attained by said heaters. Since the voltage impressed by the conductors I 02-403 upon the several heaters is subject to the regulator I80, as modified by the settings of the individual voltage dividers III], III, etc., and since the potential between said conductors is dependent upon the temperature of the sensitive resistor 15, it follows that the temperatures in the several zones of the furnace, in addition to being regulated by the individual controllers I6, TI, 18, and 19, will be subjected to the superposed influence, and will tend to vary simultaneously according to the temperature of the escaping products of combustion. It will further be apparent that adjustment of the settings of the several voltage dividers H8, III, etc. will render selectively adjustable the magnitude of response of the temperature in each zone with relation to that in the stack.

While the invention in the two forms set forth has shown the master controller as being subject to temperatures measured in the stack through which escape the products of combustion, it will be apparent that the temperature to which said control instrument is responsive may be measured at any selected location about the furnace, or elsewhere in the installation. It will further be apparent that, while all the controllers shown in Fig. 1 are indicated as of the thermocouple type, and all those in Fig. 2 as of the resistance-thermometer ty-pe, there is nothing in the invention or in its application to preclude the use of the two types, suitably combined, in a single installation.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a control system for a heating furnace having a plurality of zones to be independently regulated and having a common portion whose temperature is subject to the joint influence of the temperatures in the several zones, a fuel burner in each of said zones, a thermo-electric element in each of said zones, an electro-responfive re ulator IQt-fiafih of said -.bu rners to control the-admission of fuel thereto, -ciro it pe v l connecting each of said thermo-eiectric elements to aicormsp ndine on oflsaid ulat r to ain- :tain the temperature in the associated zone at a predetermined set :value, .a further thermo-elecin each of said connecting circuits end ad n ed t modify h r spon e of the ass0- oiated regulator, a temperature sensitive element in .said common portion of the furnace, a regulater responsive to :said iast-named element, and means subject to said regulator to adjust simultaneously the temperatures of said modifying .thermoeeiectric elements in accordance with variations of temperature in said .common portion.

2. a :eon'troi system for a heating furnace having a plurality of zones to be independently regulated, and having a common portion whose temperature is subject to the joint influence of the temperatures in the several zones, a fuel burner :in :each 01' said zones, a temperaturesensitive -resistance element in each of said zones, aresistance-responsive regulator for each of said burners to control the admission of fuel thereto, acircuit operatively connecting each of said resistanceelements to acorresponding one of said regulators to maintain the temperature in the associated o e a e or de e m ned set a e, a further t mpe a ure sens tive e ta l n in each of said connecting circuits and adapted to modify the response of the .associated regulator, a temperature sensitive element in said comnoon portion of the furnace, a regulator responvsive to said last-named element, and means sub.- Jeot to said regulator to adjust simultaneously the ,temperaturesof said modifying resistance elemen-ts in accordance -with variations of temperature in said common portion.

JOSEPH W. PECKHAM.

BEFEBENQES CITED The -following references are of record in the ti o this atent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

